CONFIDENTIAL
ง
CYPHER CAT A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE HONG KONG TELNO
CONFIDENTIAL
349
TO PEKING
ADDRESSED PEKING TELEGRAM 349 OF 13TH AUGUST..
REPEATED FOR INFORM
FORMATION TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE.
YOUR TELEGRAM 482 : CHUNG WAH.
THE ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
HW
(A) ON PRESENT PLANS THE ORDER WILL BE SIGNED ON 14TH TO TAKE
EFFECT THAT DAY. A PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE AT 5PM
ON 14TH AND THAT WILL BE THE TIME FROM WHICH THE DECISION WILL
BE REGARDED BY THE COMMITTEE AS HAVING BEEN FINALIZED:
(B) THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR DEFENSIVE ACTION THROUGH THE COURTS.
THE ONLY MEANS OF CONTESTING THE INTENDED DEREGISTRATION WAS
FOR WONG CHO-FAN TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR IN
OUNCIL (MY TELEGRAM 968). HE EXERCISED THIS RIGHT TO THE LIMITED
EXTENT OF ADDRESSING TWO LETTERS TO THE GOVERNMENT:
OD THE COMMUNISTS HAVE SHOWN NO SIGN OF APPLYING TO OPEN A NEW
SCHOOL. THEY CAN OF COURSE DEFER ANY SUCH DECISION UNTIL AFTER
DEREGISTRATION AND MAKE APPLICATION AT ANY TIME TO SUIT THEM.
WE HAVE SEEN PLENTY OF SIGNS OF PROPAGANDA AND AGITATION BUT
SO FAR NO SIGN THAT VIOLENCE OR ANY DIRECT CLASH WITH GOVERNMENT
IS ENVISAGED:
(D) WE BELIEVE THE COMMUNISTS UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL POSITION.
THEY MUST ASSUME THE ORDER WILL BE SIGNED AT THE LATEST ON
THE 14TH.
FO PLEASE PASS IMMEDIATE PEKIN 349.
SIR D. TRENCH
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
C.0.
H.K. DEPT.
F.E.P.D.
O.P.A.
CONSULAR DEPT.
1.R.D.
NEWS DEPT.
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES N¬, £3
13 AUGI
HWA 9/12
ADVANCE COPIES SENT
[REPEATED AS DEQUESTED/
F.0.
F.E.D.
NEWS DEPT.
DEFENCE DEPI, P.U.S.D.
LAST
REF
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NOX
CONFIDENT I
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